"Illusory" illusory conjunctions: The conjoining of features of visual andimagined stimuli

The question of whether illusory conjunctions would occur with visual menta l imagery was investigated. In 4 experiments, participants were tachistosco pically presented displays of geometrical figures (varying in shape, color, and solidity) flanked by 2 digits. For half of the trials, participants im agined one of the figures in the display. Illusory conjunctions occurred be tween the features of the physical (cued) and imagined figures, which sugge sts that imagery influences perception at the level of visual processing at which features are combined. Moreover, the conjunction errors induced by a n imagined figure were similar to those induced by a physical figure with t he same features. The pattern of errors could not be accounted for by guess ing. Together, these findings support the view that there can be correspond ence between visual imagery and visual perception.